Nick Herd

Saint Vitus - The Cathouse, Glasgow, Thu 14 Mar 2013

First Scottish date for the LA doom metal band is immaculately executed

LA doom metallers Saint Vitus never really got the dues they deserved throughout their various incarnations over the last few decades. Despite their ties to the legendary 80s SST label during the height of Black Flag’s fame and countless name checking…

Moss - Horrible Night

Riff-based, melodic material from unreconstructed stoner metal band

(Rise Above Records) Regarded as one of the starkest and most suffocating English doom bands of the last ten years, the return of Southampton’s Moss is another step into the void. Horrible Night sees them distance themselves from their guttural and…

Raime (live), part of Sonic Cineplex - The Arches, Glasgow, Sat 16 Feb

A solid and engaging sound from the London duo, with disappointing visuals

Armed with one of 2012’s starkest releases, Quarter Turns Over a Living Line released on the uber-slick record label Blackest Ever Black and performances at last year's Unsound festival and London's South Bank, this London duo's post-industrial…

The Punk Syndrome

Music documentary following Finnish punk outsiders Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät

A sleeper hit on the film festival circuit, The Punk Syndrome follows the trials and tribulations of Finland’s Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät, a punk band whose members have learning disabilities and their rise in popularity within the local crust-punk scene…

Pissed Jeans - Honeys

(Sub Pop) Four LPs in and Philadelphia’s Pissed Jeans are still hocking up some severely scuzzed-out bile with Honeys, their most consistent set of songs since their debut album Hope For Men back in 2007. Straight off the bat, single and opener…

Iceage - You’re Nothing

Mature and ferocious punk that avoids seeming hackneyed or unimaginative

(Matador Records) The follow up to their debut New Brigade from these furious Danes is as snotty as you’d expect. Dabbling in equal parts the post punk melodies of their first record with a noisier and a more honed production, the guitar licks on ‘In…

Lee Gamble - Dutch Tvashar Plumes

A landmark experimental dance release for the jaded clubber and avant-weirdo alike

The full-length follow-up to Lee Gamble’s recent ‘Diversions 1994-96’ EP on the fantastic Berlin-based PAN label picks up similar dismantled pieces from his last release – an EP which was made up of old and sourced samples from his 90s jungle mixtapes…

X-tg - Desertshore / The Final Report

A double-album tribute to Nico from the Throbbing Gristle members

The late Peter Christopherson’s idea of a tribute to Nico’s seminal, hair-raising solo album Desertshore dates back to 2006 with his old Throbbing Gristle cohorts Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti, who completed the project on his behalf. Despite Chris…

Tim Hecker and Daniel Lopatin - Instrumental Tourist

An icy collaborative effort from experimental heavyweights Hecker and Lopatin

An icy collaborative effort from two experimental heavyweights, Instrumental Tourist melds Tim Hecker’s distinctive digital decay with Daniel Lopatin’s (Oneohtrix Point Never) transcendent synths. The aptly titled opener ‘Uptown Psychedelia’ sets the…

Africa in Motion 2012 to focus on modern Africa

The leading African film festival to feature sci-fi, drama and documentary features and short films

Now entering its seventh year, the Africa in Motion festival has established itself as one of the leading African Cinema events and for the first time it’ll also be screening a number of premieres along with its opening night in Glasgow at the GFT. With…

Om - Stereo, Glasgow, Fri 28 Sep

The meditative metal group deliver faithful unsatisfactorily short Stereo set

Meditative metal Om Stereo, Glasgow, Fri 28 Sep Om’s new direction and rhythm section has polarised some older heads inclined towards the more Sleep-heavy vibes found on earlier releases. There’s an obvious difference in the live amalgamation of Om…

Ital - Dream On

A fun but unenlightening experimental electronica album from Brooklyn artist Daniel Martin-McCormick

Brooklyn artist Daniel Martin-McCormick, aka Ital (and one half of Mi Ami) is having a rather busy year with this his second album on Planet Mu in less than 12 months, and countless global touring to boot. Dream On attempts to cluster a lot of variation…

Dylan Carlson of drone giants Earth set for UK tour

Drone musician embarking on Scottish folk balladry project

Dylan Carlson, founder of drone giants Earth is embarking on his first solo tour under the moniker ‘Drcarlsonalbion’. Having moved Earth from their drone-metal beginnings on Extra-Capsular Extraction and Earth 2, they explored more countrified, clear…

Five occult soundtracks

Our favourite horror soundtracks, featuring Manhunter, Sorcerer and Cannibal Holocaust

This month sees a rare appearance from cult composer Fabio Frizzi, after a screening of Zombie Flesh Eaters. Unearthed are five occult soundtracks to whet your nerdy appetites Manhunter (dir. Michael Mann) – Various Artists One of the finest…

Com Truise: In Decay

Seth Haley's LP showcases demos, online and unreleased tracks

Compiled from demos, online tracks and unreleased material, Seth Haley’s most recent LP In Decay treads the same bass and synth heavy sinews of his prior releases — at times channelling the likes of Boards of Canada, as heard on ‘Open’, to twisted…

Francois & The Atlas Mountains win single of the fortnight title

How to Swim, Lightships and Planningtorock also reviewed

From Ashes Rise ‘Rejoice The End/Age of Sanity’ (Southern Lord, ****) Best filed alongside crust punk bands Tragedy and His Hero is Gone, this new 7” from Portland’s From Ashes Rise ticks all the modern crusty requirements with their highly emotive…

Big Business and Unsane - Nice N’ Sleazy, Glasgow, Thu 5 Jul 2012

Noise rock stalwarts with metal and punk credentials

Part time Melvins members and full time amp and drum devastators in Big Business, Jared Warren and Joady Willis stick to that very agenda when playing to a packed-out crowd in Sleazys. As a three piece tonight (joined by Scott Martin of Crom/400 Blows…

Om: Advaitic Songs

Om's boldest record to date features Arabic prayers, a cello-led string section and more

(Drag City) Having dipped their meditative toes into countless tantric states in their last two LPs, God is Good and Pilgrimage – Om dive head first off the edge of Mount Sinai with their most recent opus, their most ambitious and rewarding trip to…

Sleep, The Arches, Glasgow, Sun 22 May

Stoner metal from the Bay Area brings transcendent heaviness

The live Sleep experience could only ever function with obscene amounts of volume. Obviously the sticky green stuff might also be advisable to punters - depending on one’s propensity for light narcotics - but tonight it's about decibels. And low end.

Nite Jewel set for 2012 UK dates

Ramona Gonzalez progresses from lo-fi aesthetic to explore soulful territory

From the heart of LA’s underground scene comes the minimalist disco and neon-lit stylings of Nite Jewel, the project of Ramona Gonzalez – as evocative as it is rug cutting. Formally a live trio, Nite Jewel has evolved into a far more funk-leaning…

Peter Zummo - Zummo with an X

Minimalist experimental reissue from the regular Arthur Russell collaborator

An excellent reissue of the out-of-print debut from Peter Zummo dating back to 1981, a long time session musician and collaborator of Arthur Russell’s – who also lends his distinctive cello and baritone stylings throughout. With its feet firmly set in…

The Chromatics - Kill For Love

Anticipated second album from Italians Do It Better stable

(Italians Do It Better) The Chromatics follow up to 2007’s Night Drive has been one of the most anticipated albums of the year and despite countless delays with its release date – it’s been worth the wait, for the most part. Kill For Love does try a…

Toro Y Moi - June 2009

Lo-fi pop trinkets and demos from chillwave pioneer

(Carpark) Chillwave pioneer and Carolina native Chazwick Bundick follows up last year’s second release Underneath the Pine with further lo-fi pop trinkets dating back to June 2009 (hence the title), which should be stacked alongside the likes of his…

Episode 2: A Special Form of Darkness, Tramway, Glasgow, Sun 26 Feb

A mixed bag exploration of pessimism, decay and banality

Genre: Experimental music, Theatre, Philosophy So, is everything just a bit fucked? Dissecting pessimism, decay and banality is the theme of the day on the Sunday of Arika’s Episode 2: A Special Form of Darkness, with opening talks by writer, theorist…

Earth - Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II

Buoyant, but lacking dynamics that made last year’s album instantly spine chilling

(Southern Lord) The follow up to last year’s Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light I surveys the same improvised and stripped down hinterlands of its predecessor, reviving their string section in favour of the amplified nature of their previous…